Sernius Jumps Into Lithuanian Hot-Seat

Mantas Sernius takes over the women's national team of Lithuania from Algirdas Paulauskas

Former EuroLeague Women play-caller Mantas Sernius has been installed as the new head coach of the Lithuanian women's national team.

Having coached a number of Lithuanian players when overseeing VICI Aistes Kaunas during a couple of seasons in EuroLeague Women, Sernius should certainly enjoy an instant rapport with a large chunk of his locker room.

Sernius took over the reigns at TEO Vlinius from Rutenis Paulauskas early in the 2009/10 season and stayed at the helm of the club for two-and-a-half seasons as the organisation relocated to Kaunas in 2010 and competed as Vici Aistes for two more years before dropping out of EuroLeague Women.

He was also an assistant to Kestutis Kemzura on the Lithuanian men's team both at the FIBA World Championship 2010 in Turkey and EuroBasket 2011 on home soil.

Sernius can find out what coaching at a major tournament is all about from his compatriot Rimantas Grigas who not only took Belarus to EuroBasket Women 2013 in France, but also guided them to the FIBA World Championship for Women next year.

Grigas is currently head coach at men's team Pieno Zvaigzdes, with Sernius as his assistant and both coaches were thought to be in the running for the national team position.

There was also confirmation that Ricardas Maceina will be in charge of the team which steps out at the U20 European Championship Women, Ramune Kumpiene will coach at the U18 European Championship Women and Egidijus Zenevicius will call the plays at the U1 European Championship Women.